HVAC Replacement Cost Calculator
Homeowners who hired a professional to put in central air conditioning, heating equipment or both reported a median cost of $7,600 in 2026 prices; half of them paid $4,000 to $12,800. Central air alone: $6,800; heating equipment alone: $5,300; both together: $14,600.
United States · installed by a pro
$7,600typical cost
$4,000$12,800
1 in 10 paid less than $1,500; 1 in 10 paid more than $19,300.
2,101 real projects from 2021 to 2023, in 2026 prices.
Is your HVAC quote high or low?
| Cost of the project | Share of projects |
|---|---|
| $1,500 or less | 10% |
| $3,000 or less | 18% |
| $5,000 or less | 31% |
| $6,000 or less | 39% |
| $7,500 or less | 50% |
| $10,000 or less | 63% |
| $12,000 or less | 73% |
| $15,000 or less | 81% |
| $20,000 or less | 91% |
| $30,000 or less | 96% |
The survey does not record the size of the equipment, its efficiency rating, the brand or whether the ducts were replaced, so a higher quote is not necessarily too high.
HVAC replacement cost by home size
Size of the whole home, not of the job.
| Home size | Median | Middle half | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 750–999 sq ft | $6,200 | $4,000–$9,100 | 80 |
| 1,000–1,499 sq ft | $6,500 | $3,400–$10,200 | 416 |
| 1,500–1,999 sq ft | $7,400 | $3,900–$12,500 | 468 |
| 2,000–2,499 sq ft | $8,300 | $4,500–$12,800 | 428 |
| 2,500–2,999 sq ft | $9,100 | $4,500–$15,800 | 246 |
| 3,000–3,999 sq ft | $8,500 | $4,500–$13,600 | 226 |
| 4,000 sq ft or more | $9,600 | $5,600–$16,900 | 147 |
By home value
| Home value | Median | Middle half | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $200,000 | $5,100 | $2,600–$7,900 | 286 |
| $200,000–$349,999 | $7,100 | $3,900–$11,400 | 492 |
| $350,000–$599,999 | $7,900 | $4,500–$13,600 | 602 |
| $600,000 or more | $11,100 | $5,700–$17,000 | 606 |
HVAC replacement cost by region and metro area
| Region and division | Median | Middle half | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | $7,900 | $3,800–$13,600 | 381 |
| New EnglandConnecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont | $9,700 | $4,000–$16,900 | 145 |
| Middle AtlanticNew Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania | $7,900 | $3,400–$12,500 | 236 |
| Midwest | $6,200 | $3,900–$10,200 | 433 |
| East North CentralIllinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin | $5,700 | $3,900–$10,100 | 354 |
| West North CentralIowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota | $6,800 | $4,400–$11,400 | 79 |
| South | $7,600 | $4,000–$12,800 | 794 |
| South AtlanticDelaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia | $7,900 | $4,500–$13,600 | 439 |
| East South CentralAlabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee | $6,800 | $2,300–$10,200 | 63 |
| West South CentralArkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas | $7,100 | $4,000–$12,800 | 292 |
| West | $9,100 | $4,500–$17,000 | 493 |
| MountainArizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming | $7,900 | $4,500–$14,100 | 182 |
| PacificAlaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington | $10,300 | $4,500–$18,000 | 311 |
By metro area
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $6,800 | $2,800–$14,800 | 68 |
| Boston | $11,400 | $5,700–$19,800 | 93 |
| Chicago | $5,800 | $3,600–$9,100 | 109 |
| Cincinnati | $8,400 | $5,100–$13,600 | 111 |
| Cleveland | $6,800 | $3,900–$10,800 | 83 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $7,900 | $3,900–$13,600 | 100 |
| Denver | $8,500 | $4,500–$15,800 | 118 |
| Detroit | $5,400 | $2,800–$9,100 | 80 |
| Houston | $7,900 | $4,500–$13,600 | 98 |
| Los Angeles | $11,400 | $7,100–$15,400 | 39 |
| Miami | $6,000 | $3,400–$7,900 | 59 |
| Milwaukee | $6,800 | $4,500–$11,300 | 129 |
| New Orleans | $7,900 | $3,900–$14,100 | 84 |
| New York | $8,500 | $3,200–$13,500 | 84 |
| Philadelphia | $9,000 | $4,800–$13,600 | 88 |
| Phoenix | $10,700 | $7,400–$18,000 | 103 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino | $11,400 | $6,800–$20,400 | 76 |
| San Francisco-Oakland | $7,900 | $4,000–$19,300 | 55 |
| Seattle | $10,300 | $6,200–$18,000 | 76 |
| Washington, DC | $11,300 | $5,100–$15,900 | 121 |
HVAC replacement cost by what was put in and the home's heating
By what was put in
| What was put in | Median | Middle half | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central air conditioning only | $6,800 | $3,900–$10,300 | 935 |
| Heating equipment only | $5,300 | $2,600–$8,600 | 649 |
| Central air and heating equipment | $14,600 | $10,100–$20,400 | 517 |
By the home's heating system
| Main heating equipment | Median | Middle half | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forced-air furnace | $7,400 | $4,000–$12,400 | 1,565 |
| Steam or hot-water system (boiler) | $7,900 | $3,400–$13,600 | 176 |
| Electric heat pump | $7,900 | $4,500–$14,100 | 248 |
| Built-in electric baseboard or coils | $9,800 | $2,000–$13,500 | 34 |
By heating fuel
| Main heating fuel | Median | Middle half | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | $7,700 | $4,500–$12,800 | 713 |
| Natural gas (piped) | $7,400 | $3,900–$12,800 | 1,141 |
| Propane (LP gas) | $6,400 | $4,000–$11,400 | 93 |
| Fuel oil | $7,900 | $4,500–$11,600 | 98 |
Fewer than 30 homes, no figure: Wood (13).
By type of home
| Type of home | Median | Middle half | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile or manufactured home | $5,500 | $2,800–$7,900 | 84 |
| Single-family detached house | $7,900 | $4,100–$12,800 | 1,780 |
| Single-family attached house (townhouse, rowhouse) | $6,800 | $2,800–$12,800 | 147 |
| Unit in a building with 2 or more units | $6,800 | $4,000–$11,400 | 87 |
HVAC cost by type of unit: federal estimates
Estimates by the U.S. Energy Information Administration for one unit of the size shown, not costs that homeowners reported.
| Type of unit and assumed size | Typical unit | High-efficiency unit |
|---|---|---|
| Central air conditioner36,000 Btu per hour (3 tons) | $6,000–$6,100 | $6,800 |
| Air-source heat pump36,000 Btu per hour (3 tons) | $7,800 | $9,800 |
| Ductless mini-split heat pump12,000 Btu per hour (1 ton) | $2,300 | $2,300 |
| Gas furnace80,000 Btu per hour | $4,700 | $4,900 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Updated Buildings Sector Appliance and Equipment Costs and Efficiencies", Appendix A; 2022 dollars multiplied by 1.14 for 2026 prices. More about these estimates
How homeowners paid for HVAC projects
| Paid mainly with | Share | Median | Middle half | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash from savings | 75% | $6,800 | $3,600–$11,400 | 1,526 |
| Cash-out refinance | 2% | $10,800 | $7,100–$15,800 | 36 |
| Home equity loan | 3% | $10,100 | $5,200–$14,800 | 61 |
| Insurance settlement | 2% | $6,800 | $2,800–$11,300 | 33 |
| Credit or store card | 8% | $7,900 | $5,100–$12,800 | 184 |
| Contractor financing | 5% | $11,400 | $7,400–$19,300 | 119 |
| Other | 6% | $9,100 | $4,900–$13,600 | 108 |
HVAC replacement: hiring a pro or doing it yourself
87% hired a professional; 13% did most of the work themselves. Central air conditioning: 88% by a professional. Heating equipment: 87% by a professional.
| Who did most of the work | Median | Middle half | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hired a professional | $7,600 | $4,000–$12,800 | 2,101 |
| Did most of the work themselves | $2,800 | $1,000–$8,100 | 293 |
A do-it-yourself cost leaves out the household's own time.
How often homeowners put in central air conditioning, heating equipment or both
11.1% of owner-occupied homes had central air, heating equipment or both added or replaced in the two years before the survey, by a professional or by the household.
| Year the home was built | Share of homes | Homes surveyed |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 11.3% | 2,839 |
| 1940 to 1959 | 10.7% | 3,854 |
| 1960 to 1979 | 10.9% | 6,448 |
| 1980 to 1989 | 11.5% | 3,691 |
| 1990 to 1999 | 13.5% | 3,718 |
| 2000 to 2009 | 13.9% | 4,106 |
| 2010 or later | 5.5% | 2,690 |
What counts as an HVAC replacement in this data
Counted:
- Adding or replacing central air conditioning, built-in heating equipment (furnaces, heat pumps, boilers, ductwork and radiators), or both, in the same two years. A home that had both is counted once, with the two costs added together.
Not counted:
- Room air conditioners.
- Thermostats.
- Repairs and tune-ups that did not add or replace equipment.
Survey categories: "Added or replaced central air conditioning" and "Added or replaced built-in heating equipment". Costs the Census Bureau filled in (20% of the professional jobs) are left out.
Where these numbers come from
American Housing Survey 2023 (U.S. Census Bureau and HUD), in 2026 prices by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index for home improvements. Estimates by type of unit: U.S. Energy Information Administration. The calculations are our own; no agency has reviewed or endorsed them. Methodology · Data source